August 30, 2008

My favourite movies are almost always the ones involving touching human stories and my all time top favourite movies are those that make me laugh AND cry. I love a good cry.... I'm so pathetic.

So I finished this 8.5x11 LO this morning. Journaling on LO's about yourself is easy (who knows you better than yourself?). Journaling in list form is even easier, in fact it's so easy it feels like cheating. hehe. Cropping the wrinkles and wobbly bits out of a self portrait....fabulous! Rocking what you've got, supply-wise....fun (and okay, I admit it, a little challenging).

August 29, 2008

What a glorious day it was today! The first day in ages that I've been home during the day (worked the late shift tonight) and it was actually warm enough to leave the doors and windows open. The sun was shining, ducks were swimming in the pool, pets were lolling about in the sunshine and it made me feel happy.

Spring is by far my favourite season. The air is not only warmer but everything just seems lighter, brighter and happier. There are happy possibilities and the prospect of warmer weather to come....yay!

My latest altered intentions card was inspired by an invitation I received to my neice Erin's 21st. Susan (my sister) hand made the invitations and they are absolutely gorgeous! I made my RSVP using the same yummy colour scheme as her, red & aqua. I'll post photos of both items in the next couple of days.

The theme of the intentions card, 'Overcome Ego'. Letting go of the need to be right. It's something I'm constantly working on and particularly now that I'm working for someone other than myself. I know in my heart of hearts that I want to be happy more than I want to be right .................right?

August 27, 2008

Have I mentioned how inspired I am by the pack of Intentions Cards? Are you sick of me going on about them yet? Hope not because I altered another one.

This colour combo was a huge challenge for me. In fact I initially chose grey and orange, but I just couldn't make it work with the supplies I had so I decided to make it easier and switched to yellow (hey, it's not a job, right? It's supposed to be fun).

I made the collaged background using cardstock, patterned paper (7Gypsies) a die cut (Basic Grey) and a strip of my favourite silver damask printed tissue paper. Love how the tissue paper almost looks like a rub-on once it's glued on. I cut up a strip of printed coaster board (SEI) and used sticker letters (Scrapworks & Doodlebug) for the title. I added a swirl of pretty sequins to the design for a final 'abundant' touch and just glued them right on top of the design (no stitching involved - gotta love that!) .

As always, I threw a couple of cards together with the leftovers:

And don't look Dad........

To create the painted background on this card I opened up a Paint Dauber (pebble), dipped in a strip of cardstock and used it to scrape paint directly onto the cards textured surface. I can never get the paint dauber to work properly anyway so I pretty much always have to remove the applicator and dip in a brush. Is it just me? I bought mine cheap at a craft fair and the spongy bit doesn't seem to work. If anyone knows a solution to this problem, please pass it on.

.......

Speaking of passing it on, I have added a new link in the "inspiration on tap" roll call. I happened upon Jennifer McGuire's blogsite the other day (having internet access in the living room is so cool). I've been a long time fan of her column in CK, I really like how she thinks outside of the obvious with her supplies. Anyway, I was checking her blog out the other day when I found this really cool video of her making a transparent card. Go check it out....it's really cool.

August 25, 2008

My Dad call's it "doing a bit of a Heath Robinson".....Heath was famous for inventing things??? (note to self: pay more attention when people are talking). In our family, it's the phrase you use when you need to find an unusual solution to make something that shouldn't work, work. Dad usually comes up with some kind of genious solution to the problem, whereas my solution often involves copious amounts of sticky tape. Ha ha ha

You may not have noticed *wink* that I don't have fancy photo editing software. What? really? You couldn't tell? - (gasp!)

That said, I have found that it is still possible to edit my photos and create all my blog banners using the saddest little editing software (usually supplied free with purchase). To be honest, I find it so much more satisfing to create something from nothing. I mean photoshop/shmotoshop....where's the challenge? hehe

Anyhoo, I was playing around on our old laptop this evening. The only photo software it has on it is a free download called Faststone Image Viewer. It's a great filing system for digital images and brilliant for resizing images to web friendly size, but the editing software is really basic. Still it got the job done, hence the new banner and a certain feeling of smug satisfaction.

August 23, 2008

I've only been taking on small creative projects lately. Grabbing a few co-ordinating scraps and dragging them out to the living room (to my little 40cm x 30cm table) so I can play AND still be part of family life.

One of my favourite things to do is limit myself to only a small selection of goodies to work with and see how many different ways I can use them. Once I've run out of scraps, it's time to move on to a new colour scheme.....so no time to get bored! hehe

Last weeks colour combo was blue, green and black. I altered a card from my box of 'intentions' - "Take No Offense". I'm not quite sure how I will end up using and displaying these cards yet. I'm sure an idea will come to me once I've made a few more, but at this stage I have no intention!! LOL

More to share soon. This weeks colour scheme was a really tricky one, but I haven't taken any photos of my samples yet.

...............................

Life has been pretty much more of the same lately, highs and lows, tears and laughter. It was fantastic to catch up with the girls on Thursday even though it was NOT LONG ENOUGH!!! Have to do it again soon, I hope.

'til next time, stay happy :)

ETA: Keep forgetting to credit Dr. Wayne W. Dyer - the author of "The Power of Intention" cards. From the blurb on the back of the box "With these cards, Dr. Dyer gives you the tools to attract energy to you and experience your world in an exciting new way! Use the power of your intention to create the life you want right now!" ....I can hardly wait!

August 11, 2008

Today I'm spending my 20min lunch break updating and stalking blogs using the internet cafe in the shopping centre. Just had to get my fix any way I can, but can't post photos.

.......................

Chels and I had a girls weekend, travelled to Geelong for a calla comp and decided to stay the night. The comp was absolutely disasterous. Our team were disqualified for using props in an illegal manner, first item of the day and then didn't get their number called for the rest of the comp. That hasn't happened to us EVER!!! It was pretty disheartening for us all.

The best part of the weekend was the overnight stay. We started the evening with a couple of cocktails, followed by pizza and champagne in our room. Lots and lots of laughs, silliness and fun!! We came home very tired on Sunday, but happy. Not everyone stayed, but I'm so glad we did, otherwise we would have felt so flat after hearing the results from the comp.

........................

The hottest topic of conversation over the weekend was the opening ceremony of the Olympic games. Wasn't it just stunning!! So many times I gasped, in awe at the precision and creativity. Very inspiring.

And of course I'm loving watching the games, cheering the Aussies on so hard from my couch. hehe.

.............................

Proud Mummy moment on Friday. Harry's school combined with another local school for a Mini Olympics day and he won the 90m hurdles. He got a couple of 3rds in other events and also a "Well Done" sticker for his amazing air flip during long jump! Of course, that is the moment he is most proud of. hehe

Anyhoo, that's it from me today if I am to have any stalking time left, so 'til next time stay happy :)

August 08, 2008

I still had some brown paper glitter scraps left over so I made these quick two items the other night...(less than 30mins work!)

A gift bag and card. I don't know if this glitter phase is over yet, we'll have to see what happens next week.

It's probably high time I used a different colour scheme too. hehe

The BBQ has turned out to be the best spot for shooting photos of my art work. I don't know what I'll do when the weather starts warming up and we actually start using it again!

...............................

I was thrilled to see Connie and her family yesterday when they dropped in to work. She is looking really good and looks like she is coping so well with it all. She is rocking the bandana look too, very cute!

Connie requested a Dolly girls coffee reunion, so we can ALL catch up. I'll be in touch with you soon when I have a date and time.

August 06, 2008

First, let me just warn you, this afternoon I discovered Honey Roasted Macadamia Nuts at the grocer's. OMG, they're awesome! I think I've just eaten two weeks worth of calories, but I can't seem to stop! Help!

Now, from my macadamia high, onto my glitter high....

I couldn't resist playing with my glitter creations last night. I wasn't in the mood for the whole scrapbook production though (doesn't fit on my little lounge table) so I made a few cards instead.

This one I left a little plain so I can personalize it with a monogram and greeting later.

The glitter flowers are more of my brown paper creations. I also made a radical discovery.....ink is not just for edging! ha! I rubbed it straight onto the front of the card to create a blue border. Genius! lol

The strip of glitter on this card was patterned paper, embossed with cuttlebug machine, mod podged and covered in glitter. The Mod Podge is brilliant, it really sticks the glitter well without leaving a film over it.

This is my favourite (hence the new banner). I've left the little scrap of masking tape free for a personalized greeting later. The frame is more of the embossed patterned paper as before. I also used the ink technique to create a pink border on the front of the card.

August 05, 2008

While desperately searching for a Dr's referral letter last night (see details at end of post) I happened upon a spotlight shopping bag. In the bag were three pots of glitter and a tube of vintage white paint. I can't remember when I bought them, but it must have been at least a month ago. In the meantime I have bought another tube of warm white (is there any colour more versatile?) AND bought three more little pots of glitter. hehehe

Now, obviously when it comes to glitter there are only three colours worth having:

Pink, Aqua and Crystal! hehe and I didn't even know I was doing it! The glamorous little jars of superfine glitter are supposed to be for cosmetic purposes, but since I am WAY past the age of glittery make-up I had to have them for my stash, plus they look really cute on display in the play room.

I set up a Cuttlebug, glitter and paint production line in the kitchen this afternoon and had a little play. I embossed some, patterned paper, chipboard and grungeboard shapes, painted and glittered them, made way more than I needed and so put most of my creations away for another day. BTW does everyone know how gorgeous the plain Tim HoltzGrungeboard looks once it is embossed with a Cuttlebug machine? Yummy

I decorated an intentions card. I found this really awesome pack of jumbo cards in a chuck out bin in a gift shop a few weeks ago and decided I had to have them. There are 52 cards in the set, each has a statement on one side and an explanatory blurb on the other side. The artwork on the cards is cute and kinda funky, but I decided to pick out a statement that spoke to me and give the card a make-over. Here's what I made.

CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION -

Text on back is on the actual card.

The butterfly is a Jenni Bowlinchipboard shape that I forced through my Cuttlebug machine (seriously I wouldn't recommend it, the chipboard is pretty fat and I was sure the machine would break) I added paint and a little glitter and chopped the butterfly in half. Since this statement is about change I thought the butterfly was an appropriate embellishment. The blue glitter dot on the back of the card was created by sploshing Mod Podge on a piece of thick brown paper and sprinkling over with glitter, then I cut the shape by hand. The glitter on the pink scallops was also applied with Mod Podge.

In other news, I took Chels to the ENT Dr this morning and now she is booked in for Tonscillectomy/Adenoidectomy (with cauterising of blood vessels in nose thrown in for good measure) on Sept 1st. It's scary, but I think it will be so worth it, to be able to breath through her nose again.

August 04, 2008

The girls had their first comp yesterday. It went okay. March was a disaster, Rhythmic was disqualified for being 5 seconds too long, but eh, what are you gonna do? The other three items were pretty good, with only minor hiccups which are to be expected at the first comp of the year. The main thing is that the costumes looked beautiful (and so was Chelsea - but I could be a little biased there - hehe).

Next weekend we are going on a road trip to Geelong for a competition and so we have decided to stay the night and make a weekend of it, which should be fun. Hopefully while we're there Chelsea will get to meet Tom Hawkins from Geelong footy club, especially since she has already declared she is planning to marry him!

.............................

Harry played an inter-school golf championship today, with Peter caddying. He played his best round ever, 63 for nine holes and only just missed the cut. Proud mummy moment.

Peter limped around the golf course and went to physio later in the day. He strained a ligament in his knee while playing footy yesterday, but it's fairly minor and I really think he's just a sook. hehe

............................

I'm taking Chels to the ENT specialist in the morning, time to get those dreadful tonsils sorted. She is terrified about what he might say. I'm sure she will have to have surgery, but we'll see tomorrow.

..............................

I bought a copy of Simple Scrapbooks magazine today and co-incidentally have the day off work tomorrow.....time for some fun I think.